A Nigerian musician, Onomen Uduebor, also known by his alias Onomen Onohi, has been handed a prison sentence of three years and four months by a United States federal court following his involvement in a large-scale tax fraud operation.
Uduebor, 39, was convicted of “conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft”, a charge stemming from a sophisticated scheme that targeted Human Resources departments across the United States. The case has shocked both fans and legal observers, not just for its scope but for the involvement of a public figure from the entertainment industry.
According to details released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, the musician played a pivotal role in an elaborate plot that involved tricking HR departments into releasing W-2 employee tax information, which was then exploited to file over 300 fraudulent tax returns. The aim? To claim more than $1 million in refunds from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
“Court documents revealed that Uduebor personally filed 150 of the false returns and tracked the refunds, which were paid into accounts opened in the names of the identity theft victims.” Though the IRS managed to intercept most of the claims, approximately $140,000 slipped through the cracks with Uduebor admitting he personally pocketed $10,000 from the operation.
He was extradited from the United Kingdom to the U.S. in March 2025, following his September 2023 arrest, and entered a guilty plea in April 2025.
During sentencing at a federal court in Seattle, U.S. District Judge James L. Robart did not mince words, stating that Uduebor played a “substantial role” in the operation. The judge condemned the musician’s choices, saying he “freely participated in the fraud” and “should have known better.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman also emphasized the ripple effects of the crime:
“The fraud caused significant harm to companies, employees, and the IRS, with victims suffering financial disruption and emotional stress due to stolen identities and delayed tax refunds.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Uduebor has been ordered to forfeit the $10,000 he personally gained and pay $122,720 in restitution to the IRS. Once he completes his sentence, he is expected to be deported to Nigeria.
The case serves as a cautionary tale about how fame does not exempt individuals from accountability and how the misuse of influence can lead to serious consequences, both at home and abroad.
